Hundreds die in South Sudan fighting

Heavy fighting involving tanks and helicopters raged in South Sudan yesterday between troops loyal to the president and those backing the vice-president, risking a return to civil war and further instability in a turbulent and poor region.Clashes between the forces of President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar - a former rebel leader who became vice-president under a deal that ended a two-year civil war - have killed hundreds of people since they broke out in the capital Juba four days ago.